Why Men’s Health Matters
One of my most valued roles at Crescent is to serve as a Mentor to 11 Upper School students. The relationships I have with these boys are some of the most important in my professional life. Of the key reasons I chose to be a teacher, being a positive role model was at the top of my list. This is largely due to the fact that I have been blessed to have those types of men in my life: my father, brothers, uncles, older cousins, teachers, and coaches. I would not be the person I am today without their active interest in me. Now it is my responsibility to pay that forward.
Recently, in Mentor Group, I asked the boys for feedback on what we are doing well and what needs improvement at school to foster their health and well-being. I admitted to them that when I was in high school, no one asked me about my mental health or social-emotional well-being. Granted, it was a different time, but instead of learning about multiple masculinities in school, my adolescence was shaped by the modelling of traditional norms, such as stoicism, strength, and success. Fortunately, since then, I have had many people in my life who have helped me develop other traits, such as self-awareness, emotional expression, and an adaptive mindset.
I was so proud of my mentees’ honesty and openness to this conversation about men’s health. We discussed the importance of asking for help, expressing one’s emotions, and reaching out when something doesn’t feel right. And what did they offer in terms of constructive feedback? It was best expressed by one of my boys, “Sir, what if we focused on health and well-being every month, not just in January?” In short, they were asking for more of this focus, not less.
This month, we are highlighting the important work of Movember, an organization that has challenged the status quo since 2003, supported men’s health research, and transformed the way healthcare services reach men. This past week, their 2025 Canadian report was released, outlining the state of men’s health in Canada, addressing long-standing challenges and inequities, and calling for a national men’s health strategy to change the face of men’s health. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about the men and boys in their life.
As noted in this report, compared to women, men die prematurely 12% more often from cancers and 135% more often from coronary heart disease. Premature deaths from accidents (unintentional injuries) occur 153% more often in men compared to women, reflecting their higher exposure to injurious occupations and risky activities. Additionally, 72% of accidental opioid toxicity deaths, and 63% of accidental opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations are men. Men are almost three times as likely to die by suicide compared to women. For Crescent, it’s an opportunity within the context of our Breakthrough 2030 strategy to reimagine Crescent Student Services, thereby fostering our boys’ well-being, engagement, and sense of belonging.
Crescent is not just changing the face of boys’ education; it is changing the prospect of our boys’ health. We are intentionally mentoring boys to become good and healthy men, surrounding them with caring and supportive role models. Yes, our boys need to be smart, but more importantly, they need to be well. The greatest measure of a Crescent education is not what our boys do when they are 18, but who they have become when they are 80.
